“Master, no matter how challenging it is, I’m determined to give it a try!” Grace declared resolutely. With her father bedridden and her unreliable brothers, she had no choice but to take up the responsibility and attempt to salvage Dragonmarsh’s losses as much as possible.
“Go then. Be prepared. You’re the only one with a chance to accomplish this,” Elder Sage advised, emphasizing the importance of her role.
“Take care, Master. I’ll visit you when I can.” Grace bowed deeply and quickly took her leave. The destruction of the vital force demanded immediate action.
“The cycle of generations has unfolded, with each era having its rulers and subjects. As head of the Regal Observatory, the time has come for me to take my leave.” Elder Sage sighed.
He stood up unsteadily, performed rituals, and changed into fresh clothes. After arranging everything, he returned to his seat, closed his eyes, and waited.
After some time, a gust of wind blew through, extinguishing the suspended lanterns. Elder Sage’s head drooped, bidding farewell to the world.
On the other side, on top of Quandary Mountain, Seth, who had unleashed the final strike, now resembled an elderly man on the brink of death.
His body was covered in fine cracks, like a porcelain vase about to shatter.
“Logan…” Seth’s gaze shifted to Dustin at the mountain’s foot, giving him a faint smile. “It’s been many years. You’ve grown quite a bit. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Uncle Seth…” Dustin’s eyes welled up, choked with emotion. He could keenly sense Seth’s life force rapidly dwindling. This irreversible outcome had been set in motion when Seth forcibly boosted his cultivation.
“I’ve led a righteous life, deserving an honorable living, but I owe a debt to your mother.”
Seth continued, “She saved my life, and I couldn’t repay that favor. Now, I’ll return that life to you, considering it a resolution.
“You’re my only disciple, and I don’t have much to give, but take this Dragon Sparrow Sword as a token of my goodwill.”
As he spoke, he tossed the Dragon Sparrow Sword high in the air, and it embedded itself in the rock in front of Dustin.
Despite the proximity of the renowned sword he had long desired, Dustin’s hands trembled, hesitant to touch it.
“Logan, I have a favor to ask you…” Seth’s body began to dissipate, his voice becoming ethereal. He continued, “If you get the chance, visit Serene Village in Aetherburg. Find a woman named Blossom and tell her I’ve traveled far and won’t be coming back. Let her find someone else to marry.
“Oh, right. There’s a girl in the village named Hazel who has a promising talent. Nurture her well. She could be of great use in the future. That’s about it.
“Take care, Logan. Be cautious in everything. I won’t be able to help you anymore. You’ll have to rely on yourself for everything.”
As those last words echoed, Seth’s body completely transformed into dust, vanishing into the expanse of sky and earth.
With a breakthrough in cultivation and a single stroke of the Draconic Edge, the world’s foremost swordsman, the Sword Whisperer Seth, met his demise.
